Curling mascara

ABSTRACT

A curling mascara apparatus is disclosed. The curling mascara apparatus has a barrel for holding mascara liquid therein, a cover coupled to a mouth of the barrel, a makeup unit provided on an end of a support cylinder which extends inside the cover along a central axis thereof, and a button manipulating part for manipulating the makeup unit. The makeup unit includes a slide bar which is slidably inserted into the support cylinder and operated in conjunction with the button manipulating part, a lower tong which is integrally provided at an end of the slide bar, an upper tong which is hinged at an end thereof to the lower tong so as to perform a clamping operation, and an elastic member which provides elastic force such that the lower and upper tongs are rotated around a hinge axis to be opened.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates, in general, to mascara and, moreparticularly, to a curling mascara apparatus, which is intended to applyliquid mascara makeup to the eyelashes or to curl the eyelashes at apredetermined curvature.

BACKGROUND ART

Generally, mascara is a cosmetic which is used by women to improve theappearance of their eyes. To this end, mascara is used to apply mascaraliquids of various colors to the eyelashes. The mascara includes abarrel for holding mascara liquid therein, a handle for opening orclosing the barrel and holding the barrel, a rod-shaped stem extendingdownwards from the handle, and an application part provided on the lowerportion of the stem. By connecting or disconnecting the handle to orfrom the barrel, the application part is covered with the mascaraliquid. A user applies makeup to the eyelashes with the application partcovered with the mascara liquid.

Here, according to the length and shape of the brush of the applicationpart which is the means for applying mascara liquid to eyelashes,various functions, for example, the volumizing function (the effect ofmaking eyelashes look thick), the curling function (the effect ofcurling up the ends of the eyelashes), the function of making eyelasheslook long (the long lash effect), and the cleaning function (the effectof preventing eyelashes from becoming tangled up with each other) areachieved. Therefore, the application part has been manufactured invarious shapes.

However, it is complicated and difficult for a user, who is unaccustomedto using the mascara, to apply mascara liquid to the application partand create a desired eyelash effect, and in addition, it takes a longtime to apply makeup to the eyelashes.

Thus, recently, an eyelash curler has been used as the means for solvingthe above-mentioned problems and for allowing for applying makeup to theeyelashes to be finished within a short period of time.

That is, after the eyelashes are previously assembled into a desiredshape using the eyelash curler, the mascara liquid is applied to theeyelashes. Thereby, it is possible to rapidly apply makeup to theeyelashes such that the eyelashes have a desired shape.

However, the eyelash curler is not provided with mascara which isrequired to apply makeup to the eyelashes, so that a user must carryboth the eyelash curler and the mascara when the user goes out ortravels, and thus the volume of articles to be carried is increased.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION Technical Problem

Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in mind theabove problems occurring in the prior art, and an object of the presentinvention is to provide a curling mascara apparatus, which isconstructed so that the functions of a curler and mascara areincorporated into one makeup tool, thus allowing a user to easily andconveniently apply makeup.

Technical Solution

In order to accomplish the above object, the present invention providesa curling mascara apparatus, having a barrel for holding mascara liquidtherein, a cover coupled to a mouth of the barrel, a makeup unitprovided on an end of a support cylinder which extends inside the coveralong a central axis thereof, and a button manipulating part formanipulating the makeup unit, wherein the makeup unit includes a slidebar slidably inserted into the support cylinder and operated inconjunction with the button manipulating part; a lower tong integrallyprovided at an end of the slide bar; an upper tong hinged at an endthereof to the lower tong so as to perform a clamping operation; and anelastic member for providing elastic force such that the lower and uppertongs are rotated around a hinge axis to be opened.

The lower tong includes a pressurizing base part having a V-shapedgroove; a shaft coupling guide groove extending from an inside end ofthe pressurizing base part; and an elastic-member mounting hole formedin a bottom of the pressurizing base part in such a way as to be locatedin front of the shaft coupling guide groove.

Combs having a plurality of teeth are provided on both inclined surfaceson an inner portion of the pressurizing base part.

Further, an elastic pad is provided in the bottom of the pressurizingbase part.

An inner surface of the shaft coupling guide groove which is adjacent tothe slide bar comprises an inclined surface.

A pinhole is formed to pass transversely through a center of the shaftcoupling guide groove.

The upper tong includes a pressure wing for linearly pressurizing thebottom of the pressurizing base part of the lower tong; a shaft couplingplate extending from an end of the pressure wing, and engaged with theshaft coupling guide groove of the lower tong; and an elastic-membermounting hole formed in the pressure wing in such a way as to be locatedin front of the shaft coupling plate.

Combs having a plurality of teeth are provided on both inclined surfaceson an outer portion of the pressure wing.

An outer surface of the shaft coupling plate which is adjacent to theslide bar comprises an inclined surface.

A pinhole is formed to pass transversely through a center of the shaftcoupling plate.

A cross section of the pressure wing has an acute angle of 45° or less.

The V-shaped groove of the pressurizing base part makes an angle from45° to 180°.

Further, each of the lower and upper tongs is formed to be bent at apredetermined curvature.

ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS

As described above, the present invention provides a curling mascaraapparatus, which allows the operation of applying mascara liquid to theeyelashes and the operation of curling the eyelashes to besimultaneously performed with a single action of picking up and curlingthe eyelashes using a tong-shaped unit, thus allowing a user to easilyand conveniently apply makeup, in addition to reducing the time spent onapplying makeup.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the schematicconstruction of a curling mascara apparatus according to one embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a makeup unit of the curlingmascara apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the makeup unit ofthe curling mascara apparatus according to one embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIGS. 4 and 5 are sectional views illustrating the assembled state ofthe makeup unit of the curling mascara apparatus according to oneembodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 6 and 7 are views illustrating the operation of the makeup unit ofthe curling mascara apparatus according to one embodiment of the presentinvention; and

FIGS. 8 and 9 are views illustrating the operation of a makeup unit of acurling mascara apparatus according to another embodiment of the presentinvention.

DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS OF IMPORTANT PARTS

-   100: barrel-   200: cover-   250: support cylinder-   300: makeup unit-   310: slide bar-   330: lower tong-   331: pressurizing base part-   332: elastic pad-   333, 353: comb-   335, 355: elastic-member mounting hole-   337, 357: shaft coupling guide groove-   339, 359: pinhole-   350: upper tong-   351: pressure wing-   357: shaft coupling plate-   370: pin-   390: elastic member-   400: button manipulating part

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The preferred embodiments of the present invention will be describedbelow in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the schematicconstruction of a curling mascara apparatus according to one embodimentof the present invention.

As shown in the drawing, the curling mascara apparatus according to thepresent invention includes a barrel 100 which holds mascara liquidtherein, a cover 200 which is coupled to a mouth of the barrel 100, amakeup unit 300 which is provided on an end of a support cylinder 250extending inside the cover 200 along the central axis thereof, and abutton manipulating part 400 which is used to manipulate the makeup unit300.

The button manipulating part 400 is provided on the outer circumferenceof the cover 200 in such a way as to protrude outwards, so that themakeup unit is operated by pushing the button manipulating part.Alternatively, the makeup unit is operated by sliding the buttonmanipulating part.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the makeup unit of the curlingmascara apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention,FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the makeup unit ofthe curling mascara apparatus according to one embodiment of the presentinvention, and FIGS. 4 and 5 are sectional views illustrating theassembled state of the makeup unit of the curling mascara apparatusaccording to one embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in the drawings, the makeup unit 300 is constructed so that aslide bar 310 is inserted into the tubular support cylinder 250, andslides forwards and backwards in conjunction with the buttonmanipulating part 400. Upper and lower tongs 350 and 330 are provided onan end of the slide bar 310, and are opened or closed by the forward andbackward sliding motion of the slide bar.

The lower tong 330 includes a pressurizing base part 331 and a shaftcoupling guide groove 337. A V-shaped groove is formed in the uppersurface of a cylindrical body, which extends integrally from the slidebar 310, thus forming the pressurizing base part. The shaft couplingguide groove is provided at the inside end of the pressurizing base part331. Here, the shaft coupling guide groove 337 is manufactured to have aflat planar shape, so that a plate having a predetermined thickness isinserted into the groove.

Combs 333, having a plurality of teeth, are provided on both inclinedsurfaces on the inner portion of the pressurizing base part 331. Eachcomb 333 comprises valleys and crests which are repeatedly formed. Bypassing the eyelashes through the valleys, the eyelashes are combed.

Preferably, the inner surface of the shaft coupling guide groove 337,which is adjacent to the slide bar, comprises an inclined surface 337 a.When the inclined surface 337 a engages with the upper tong 350 toperform a clamping operation, the inclined surface functions to limitthe opening angle of the upper tong 350.

A pinhole 339 is formed in the transverse direction of the shaftcoupling guide groove, so that a pin 370 may be inserted into thepinhole.

Further, an elastic-member mounting hole 335 is formed in the bottom ofthe pressurizing base part 331 in such a way as to be located in frontof the shaft coupling guide groove 337, so that an elastic member 390 isseated in the elastic-member mounting hole. The elastic-member mountinghole 335 prevents the elastic member 390 from being removed from theelastic-member mounting hole.

The upper tong 350 is hinged at one end thereof to the lower tong 330 tosubstantially perform clamping operation. The upper tong includes apressure wing 351 which is in line contact with the bottom of thepressurizing base part 331 of the lower tong 330.

One side of the pressure wing 351 has the interior angle of 180° orless. More preferably, the pressure wing has the acute angle of 45° orless. Such a pressure wing 351 pressurizes the pressurizing base part331, thus curling the eyelashes, which are interposed between thepressure wing and the pressurizing base part, at a predeterminedcurvature.

At this time, the curvature of the curled eyelashes can be determinedaccording to the pressurizing force and the angle of the pressure wing351.

The angle of the pressurizing base part 331 may be determined dependingon the angle of the pressure wing 351. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, thepressurizing base part may comprise a V-shaped groove having the anglefrom 45° to 180° . Mascara liquid is gathered in the V-shaped groovewhich is formed in this way. Thus, a user finishes putting on makeup atone time without dipping the makeup unit 300 into the barrel 100, thusleading to convenience of use.

As shown in FIG. 5, an elastic pad 332 may be provided in the bottom ofthe pressurizing base part 331. The elastic pad 332 absorbs thepressurizing force of the pressure wing 351, thus preventing theeyelashes from being pulled out by excessive pressure.

Further, combs 353 having a plurality of teeth are provided on bothinclined surfaces on the outer portion of the pressure wing 351, thuscombing the eyelashes.

A shaft coupling plate 357 is provided at one end of the pressure wing351 in such a way as to be hinged to the shaft coupling guide groove 337of the lower tong 330, and a pinhole 359 is formed to pass transverselythrough the center of the shaft coupling plate 357.

Further, a surface of the shaft coupling plate 357, which is adjacent tothe slide bar, comprises an inclined surface 357 a. When the upper tong350 is rotated beyond a predetermined angle, the inclined surface 357 acomes into contact with the inclined surface 337 a of the lower tong330, thus preventing the upper tong 350 from opening any more.

Another elastic-member mounting hole 355 is formed at a position infront of the shaft coupling plate 357 in such a way as to be oppositethe elastic-member mounting hole 335 of the lower tong 330.

As described above, the shaft coupling guide groove 337 of the lowertong 330 and the shaft coupling plate 357 of the upper tong 350 arearranged in such a way that their pinholes 339 and 359 are aligned witheach other. In such a state, the pin 370 is inserted into the pinholes,so that the upper and lower tongs are coupled to each other.

Here, the operation of opening the upper and lower tongs 350 and 330 isperformed by the elastic operation of the elastic member 390 which isinserted between the elastic-member mounting holes 355 and 333.

Hereinafter, the operation of the curling mascara apparatus according tothe present invention will be described with reference to theaccompanying drawings.

FIGS. 6 and 7 are views illustrating the operation of the makeup unit ofthe curling mascara apparatus according to one embodiment of the presentinvention, in which FIG. 6 illustrates the state in which the upper andlower tongs 350 and 330 of the makeup unit 300 are closed, and FIG. 7illustrates the state in which the upper and lower tongs 350 and 330 ofthe makeup unit 300 are opened.

First, a user separates the cover 200 from the barrel 100, and thenplaces the makeup unit 300 near to the eyelashes. In such a state, theuser manipulates the button manipulating part 400 to operate the slidebar 310.

At this time, the slide bar 310 is inserted into the support cylinder250, and is connected at one end thereof to the button manipulating part400 to be operated in conjunction with the button manipulating part. Bypushing or pulling the button manipulating part 400, the slide bar moveshorizontally, the makeup unit 300, extending from the other end of theslide bar, moves forwards.

The construction of the portion which joins the slide bar 310 with thebutton manipulating part 400 may be embodied in various ways. A link maybe connected between the slide bar 310 and the button manipulating part400 so that the slide bar is operated in conjunction with the buttonmanipulating part.

Further, the button manipulating part 400 reciprocates in the verticaldirection of the cover 200, and the vertical force is converted intohorizontal force, so that the horizontal force is transmitted to theslide bar 310, and thus the slide bar 310 moves in a horizontaldirection.

In this case, contact surfaces of the button manipulating part 400 andthe slide bar 310 comprise facing inclined surfaces, so that theconversion of direction is done by the sliding motion.

At this time, the makeup unit 300 is covered with the mascara liquid.

Here, referring to FIG. 6, the hinge axis of the makeup unit 300, thatis, the coupled position of the pin 370 is located in the supportcylinder 250.

That is, part of the upper and lower tongs 350 and 330 is trapped by thesupport cylinder 250. The upper and lower tongs 350 and 330 are notrotated around the pin 370 but are closed. When the pin 370 is moved toan end of the support cylinder 250, the upper and lower tongs 350 and330 protruding out of the support cylinder 250 are ready to rotatearound the pin 370. The upper and lower tongs 350 and 330 are opened bythe elastic operation of the elastic member 390, as shown in FIG. 7.

Thereafter, a user places the eyelashes between the open upper and lowertongs 350 and 330. In order to grip the eyelashes, the buttonmanipulating part 400 is manipulated so that the slide bar 310 isretracted into the support cylinder 250.

At this time, the outer circumferences of the upper and lower tongs 350and 330 are in contact with the inner circumference of the supportcylinder 250. Thereby, the upper and lower tongs 350 and 330 are closed,so that the eyelashes are evenly arranged between the pressure wing 351and the pressurizing base part 331 and are compressed.

As such, in the state where the eyelashes are compressed, the user holdsthe cover 200 and causes the eyelashes to curl upwards.

Through the curling operation, the mascara liquid is applied to theeyelashes, and simultaneously, the eyelashes are curled at apredetermined curvature.

The makeup operation may be performed in reverse order by changing thedesign of the button manipulating part 400.

That is, the upper and lower tongs 350 and 330 may be always in an openstate as shown in FIG. 7. In such a state, the user manipulates thebutton manipulating part 400. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 6, the slide bar310 is retracted into the support cylinder 250, so that the upper andlower tongs are closed.

FIGS. 8 and 9 are views illustrating the operation of a makeup unit ofthe curling mascara apparatus according to another embodiment of thepresent invention. As shown in the drawings, a lower tong 330 and anupper tong 350 of the makeup unit 300 may be curved at a predeterminedcurvature.

The reason is because the eyelid of a human has a predeterminedcurvature. When the upper and lower tongs 350 and 330 are manufacturedsuch that the curvature thereof approximates the shape of the eyelid, auser can more easily and conveniently apply makeup on the eyelashes.

1. A curling mascara apparatus, having a barrel for holding mascaraliquid therein, a cover coupled to a mouth of the barrel, a makeup unitprovided on an end of a support cylinder which extends inside the coveralong a central axis thereof, and a button manipulating part formanipulating the makeup unit, wherein the makeup unit comprises: a slidebar slidably inserted into the support cylinder and operated inconjunction with the button manipulating part; a lower tong integrallyprovided at an end of the slide bar; an upper tong hinged at an endthereof to the lower tong so as to perform a clamping operation; and anelastic member for providing elastic force such that the lower and uppertongs are rotated around a hinge axis to be opened.
 2. The curlingmascara apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the lower tongcomprises: a pressurizing base part having a V-shaped groove; a shaftcoupling guide groove extending from an inside end of the pressurizingbase part; and an elastic-member mounting hole formed in a bottom of thepressurizing base part in such a way as to be located in front of theshaft coupling guide groove.
 3. The curling mascara apparatus accordingto claim 2, wherein combs having a plurality of teeth are provided onboth inclined surfaces on an inner portion of the pressurizing basepart.
 4. The curling mascara apparatus according to claim 2, wherein anelastic pad is provided in the bottom of the pressurizing base part. 5.The curling mascara apparatus according to claim 2, wherein an innersurface of the shaft coupling guide groove which is adjacent to theslide bar comprises an inclined surface.
 6. The curling mascaraapparatus according to claim 2, wherein a pinhole is formed to passtransversely through a center of the shaft coupling guide groove.
 7. Thecurling mascara apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the upper tongcomprises: a pressure wing for linearly pressurizing the bottom of thepressurizing base part of the lower tong; a shaft coupling plateextending from an end of the pressure wing, and engaged with the shaftcoupling guide groove of the lower tong; and an elastic-member mountinghole formed in the pressure wing in such a way as to be located in frontof the shaft coupling plate.
 8. The curling mascara apparatus accordingto claim 7, wherein combs having a plurality of teeth are provided onboth inclined surfaces on an outer portion of the pressure wing.
 9. Thecurling mascara apparatus according to claim 7, wherein an outer surfaceof the shaft coupling plate which is adjacent to the slide bar comprisesan inclined surface.
 10. The curling mascara apparatus according toclaim 7, wherein a pinhole is formed to pass transversely through acenter of the shaft coupling plate.
 11. The curling mascara apparatusaccording to claim 7, wherein a cross section of the pressure wing hasan acute angle of 45° or less.
 12. The curling mascara apparatusaccording to claim 2, wherein the V-shaped groove of the pressurizingbase part makes an angle from 45° to 180°.
 13. The curling mascaraapparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of the lower and uppertongs is formed to be bent at a predetermined curvature.